Lawyer-reviewed limited licence applications · $749 + GST fixed fee · Every cost disclosed upfront
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Limited Licence Lawyer Whangarei

Limited licence application preparation for clients in Whangarei and the wider Northland region.

If you have been disqualified from driving or suspended for demerit points in the Whangarei area, a limited licence may allow you to continue driving for essential purposes while your disqualification or suspension is in effect.

Whangarei District Court handles limited licence applications for the wider Northland region, including Dargaville, Kaikohe, and the Far North. Applications are filed at the court and heard by a District Court judge.

Hardship in Whangarei and Northland

Northland presents particular challenges for anyone who loses their driving licence. Public transport is limited, employment is often rural or trade-based, and distances between towns are significant. These factors strengthen hardship arguments in limited licence applications.

The court considers whether you have a genuine need to drive and whether there are reasonable alternatives. In Whangarei and surrounding Northland communities, the answer is often that there are no practical alternatives to driving — particularly for workers in agriculture, forestry, construction, and the trades.

What we prepare for Whangarei applications

Every application we prepare for the Whangarei District Court includes a lawyer-drafted affidavit setting out your specific hardship, a supporting affidavit from your employer or other supporting person, a boundary map covering your required driving routes, and a draft court order. All documents are formatted to the standard required by the court.

For $749 + GST, we prepare everything. Court filing fees and the NZTA reinstatement fee are separate and payable directly to those agencies.

Demerit point suspensions in Northland

If you have been suspended for accumulating 100 or more demerit points, you can apply for a limited licence immediately — there is no stand-down period. Many Northland drivers accumulate demerit points through speed camera infringements on the region's long rural roads. A demerit suspension does not have to mean the end of your livelihood.

Court-imposed disqualifications

If you have been disqualified by the court — for drink driving, drug driving, or another driving offence — there is a mandatory 28-day stand-down before you can apply for a limited licence. We can begin preparing your application during this period so it is ready to file on day 29.

Whangarei District Court

Address: 103/109 Bank Street, Whangarei 0110

Filing notes: File at the court counter during business hours. Demerit suspension applications: $269 filing fee + $67 sealing fee. Disqualification applications: $171 filing fee. NZTA reinstatement fee ($48.70) payable separately.

Police prosecutor — Whangarei

A copy of your limited licence application must be served on the police prosecutor before your hearing. The responsible office for Whangarei District Court is:

Whangarei Prosecutions

Email: PPS.Whangarei@police.govt.nz

Phone: (09) 430 4650

Address: Private Bag 9016, Whangarei 0110

Public transport in Whangarei

Whangarei has limited public transport. The CityLink bus service covers central Whangarei and some suburban routes, but frequency is low — typically hourly — and coverage outside the city centre is minimal. Many residents in surrounding areas such as Tikipunga, Onerahi, and Kamo rely entirely on private vehicles. For workers commuting to industrial areas or rural properties, there is no viable public transport alternative. This transport reality is directly relevant to hardship arguments: if you cannot drive, you genuinely cannot get to work.

Employment and industry

Northland's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture. Oil refining at Marsden Point was historically a major employer. Trades, construction, and rural contracting are dominant employment sectors. Many workers drive to multiple job sites daily — fencing contractors, farm workers, builders, and electricians who service the wider Northland region. For self-employed tradespeople, losing a licence means losing the ability to earn income entirely.

Frequently asked questions — Whangarei

Applications are filed at the Whangarei District Court on Rust Avenue. This court covers the wider Whangarei area and much of Northland.

For most people, no. CityLink operates limited bus routes in central Whangarei, but coverage is minimal and frequency is low. Outside the city centre, there is effectively no public transport. This is a relevant factor in hardship arguments before the court.

Learn more about limited licences

The hardship test

What evidence the court needs under s105.

How to file your application

Step-by-step filing and service guide.

The 28-day stand-down

When it applies and what to do during it.

Conditions on your licence

What the court restricts and why.

Need a limited licence in Whangarei?

Check if you qualify in 60 seconds. Our eligibility quiz will tell you whether you can apply and what to expect.